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9 Crazy On-the-Job Movie Meltdowns

JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater quit in a dramatic fashion this week, by cursing on the airplane PA and then jumping out an emergency slide. WATCH VIDEO of great “take this job and shove it!” moments from cinema, from Network’s Howard Beale to Office Space. Plus, Jessi Klein on why Slater is the recession’s Sully.

08.10.10 12:32 PM ET

Network: Mad as Hell

Call it the
Citizen Kane of on-the-job rage explosion scenes: Howard Beale (played by Peter Finch, who won a posthumous Academy Award for his performance) is in danger of losing his news anchor job due to poor ratings. So he goes on a tirade, which ironically boosts the show’s ratings. Not a tactic we’d recommend, but entertaining as hell to watch.

American Beauty: Just An Ordinary Guy Blackmailing His Boss

Kevin Spacey spends his days in
American Beauty hiding his contempt for his boss by retreating to the restroom to masturbate and fantasize about not being in workplace-hell. His options were quit his job or become a firebomber...or blackmail.

Erin Brockovich: Fighting the Good Fight

Julia Roberts snagged an Oscar for her portrayal of a feisty legal file clerk who uncovers an industrial poisoning coverup. This scene shows the best kind of on-the-job meltdown: one that gets a life-changing settlement for the victims of the evil corporation.

Bridget Jones: Leaving Him Speechless

Sure, it was a mistake for Bridget to shag her boss. But it was an even worse mistake for him to cross her. In this fantastic scene, Bridget quits with humor and dignity and even gets in a great one-liner about wiping Saddam Hussein’s bum.

Scarface: Tony Changes Careers

Tony Montana wasn't a dishwasher for long. This scene from the 1983 film isn't as famous as the ones involving mountains of cocaine or the spray of bullets—but it's a juicy one if you've ever worked in a kitchen.

Jerry Maguire: Swim Away With Me

Tom Cruise does a great job assuring his former co-workers that he's not going to flip out in this scene from
Jerry Maguire. That is, until he starts lecturing them on their manners. Looks like the only thing ready to come with him in this "real" moment is a fish named Flipper.

Office Space: A Flair for Quitting

Probably the best movie to tackle the ennui of working life,
Office Space also gave us one of the best quitting scenes. Watch as Jennifer Aniston’s Joanna finally manages to express herself, and not through the tacky “flair” buttons her boss makes her wear.

Half Baked: Would You Like Expletives With That?

Score one for those laboring in the food-service industry. In the ultimate quitting scene from
Half Baked, Scarface tells it like it is to his shift mates in a fast-food joint. Be forewarned, the language is strong but undeniably clear.

Fight Club: A Guide to Extorting the Man

It’s one thing to tell your boss to go to hell. It’s quite another to blackmail him, throw yourself into a glass bookshelf, and leave with a year’s salary and a bloody nose. That’s what we call leaving in style.